How to brush your teeth the right way: a step-by-step guide

You probably know you're supposed to brush your teeth twice a day, and you might even know about the two-minutes-per-session rule. But what do you know about proper brushing technique?

This guide will explain exactly how to brush your teeth, step by step, along with helpful tips, common brushing mistakes to avoid, and other useful tidbits for at-home teeth cleaning.

Why proper brushing technique matters

Why does this matter? An electric toothbrush (whether it's a vibrating sonic model or one with an oscillating head) can give you a leg up when brushing your teeth. Knowing how to brush your teeth the right way can help you remove plaque buildup and potentially prevent cavities and tooth decay. Let's walk through a step-by-step tooth brushing guide to up your at home dental hygiene.

How to brush your teeth step by step

If you strive for good oral hygiene and healthy teeth (hi, us too), follow these steps when brushing your teeth.

Step 1: Apply the right amount of toothpaste

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), anyone over age 6 should use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when brushing teeth.

People often apply too much toothpaste to their toothbrush — like two or three peas' worth. This isn't a huge deal as long as you spit when you're finished. But a big glob of toothpaste could also cause excess foaming, which can be messy, and possibly irritate the skin around your mouth.

Step 2: Hold your toothbrush at the right angle

The ADA says to hold your toothbrush vertically (so the bristles are directly facing your teeth) to clean the surface of each tooth. Then position it at a 45-degree angle against your gum line to get rid of plaque.

Step 3: Brush gently with short strokes

The ADA recommends brushing with short back-and-forth strokes. Circular motions can also work for your front teeth. For an oscillating toothbrush, no manual motions are necessary – let the brush do the work.

Gentle brushing with a soft-bristled brush is the way to go. This is the general recommendation for just about everyone, but it's particularly important if you have sensitive teeth.

Step 4: Brush all sections and sides of your teeth

Make sure you're brushing the front and back of each tooth and all sections of your mouth: upper-right, upper-left, lower-right, and lower-left.

This should take you about two minutes — or 30 seconds per quadrant. Many electric toothbrushes have built-in timers that pulse every 30 seconds to let you know when to move to the next section of your mouth.

Step 5: Don't forget to brush your tongue

Remember, your routine isn't complete until your tongue is clean too! Make sure to use a tongue scraper or the back side of a quip Sonic Toothbrush which is specifically designed for cleaning the tongue. This can help prevent bad breath and potentially illness from bacterial infections.

How long should you brush your teeth?

You should brush your teeth for two full minutes at least twice a day. As noted, battery-powered toothbrushes often have integrated timers so you know when you've reached two minutes.

Our guide on how to use an electric toothbrush has more tips for powered brushing.

How often should you replace your toothbrush?

The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three to four months — the same goes for electric toothbrush heads. This will help you avoid bacterial buildup while ensuring the toothbrush bristles aren't warped, bent, or frayed, which could result in poor-quality brushing.

We've also covered how to clean an electric toothbrush.

Common brushing mistakes to avoid

Here are a few common mistakes to avoid when brushing your teeth:

• Not brushing long enough. If you're not brushing for the full two minutes each time, you're doing yourself (and your dental health) a disservice.

• Brushing too hard. Vigorously brushing your teeth isn't necessary. It can actually hurt your gums and cause tooth sensitivity. Plus, you might prematurely wear out your toothbrush.

• Rinsing when you're done. You don't need to rinse your mouth with water after brushing your teeth. In fact, it's better not to. Go ahead and spit, but then be done with it to let the residual fluoride toothpaste do its thing (preventing cavities and tooth decay, that is).

Improve your oral health with quip

quip has everything you need to step up your at-home dental care and teeth cleaning game, from electric toothbrushes and replacement heads to flossers, toothpaste, gum, and mints. Shop our collections to see what's available. Explore our products to improve your dental hygiene!

Curious what cleans better between Manual, rotating, or vibrating toothbrushes? Our blog has answers.

Sources:

Patil SP, et al. (2014). Effectiveness of different tooth brushing techniques on the removal of dental plaque in 6-8 year old children of Gulbarga. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry, 4(2), 113–116. doi.org/10.4103/2231-0762.138305

American Dental Association (ADA). (2022). Toothbrushes.

American Dental Association (ADA). (2021). Toothpastes.

Choi HN, et al. (2021). The Effect of Mechanical Tongue Cleaning on Oral Malodor and Tongue Coating. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(1), 108. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010108

Matsui M, et al. Effects of tongue cleaning on bacterial flora in tongue coating and dental plaque: a crossover study. BMC Oral Health 14, 4 (2014). doi.org/10.1186/1472-6831-14-4

Conforti NJ, et al. (2003). An investigation into the effect of three months' clinical wear on toothbrush efficacy: results from two independent studies. The Journal of clinical dentistry, 14(2), 29–33.

National Health Services (NHS). (2022). How to keep your teeth clean.